European regulations affecting large digital platforms, most of which are American, have always been viewed with caution by Washington, but the US government has never raised issues and never made noise. Until Donald Trump came along.
Jamieson Greer, trade representative of the United States, threatened the Europeans this Tuesday with the introduction of new tariffs and restrictions This will apply to a long list of European companies when the European Commission applies its rules to American companies. Washington wants exceptions so that what is the law for European companies and companies from third countries is not its own law.
The latest European fine on
Greer said on Musk’s same platform yesterday: “The European Union and some member states of the European Union.” have continued to impose lawsuits, taxes and fines and discriminatory and humiliating policies for American service providers.”
The European Union and its executive body, the European Commission, are simply applying the rules adopted in recent years. to ensure everything from free competition in the European market to transparency in the way these networks work. If these companies violate the law, they will be fined. If they fail to pay the fines, they will be reported to the court.
The taxes they pay are the same as other companies in other countries (although in reality they use deception to avoid paying much of the taxes corresponding to them).
Greer threatened: “If the European Union and the member states of the European Union continue to insist on restricting, restricting and discouraging the competitiveness of American service providers through discriminatory means, the United States will have no other choice.” “We need to start using all the tools at our disposal to counteract these measures.”
Washington simply wants European laws not to apply to the European activities of American companies, just as American laws apply to European companies with regard to their activities in the United States.
Greer not only made a theoretical threat, but directly targeted a list of European companiesalongside other giants such as Accenture, Amadeus, Capgemini, DHL, Mistral, Publicis, SAP, Siemens or Spotify.
The threats are not only directed against the countries of the European Union. Washington also points to its traditional British ally, which appears to no longer be that ally since the arrival of Donald Trump, who is of Scottish descent on his mother’s side and has properties in Scotland.
The US government is demanding that London stop US companies from being charged a newly created digital tax that will be charged to all major technology companies regardless of their nationality, including British ones. It is synonymous with 2% of its revenue and the UK Treasury hopes to raise just over $1 billion a year. Companies with an annual global turnover of more than £500 million must pay this, provided that at least 5% of that turnover is generated by UK residents.
The European summit taking place this Thursday and Friday could address this American pressure, as a conversation on “the impact of the position of China and the United States on the global economy” is on the agenda of European leaders, according to European diplomatic sources.
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